A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD DURING EACH REGULAR MEETING OF A local board of education, COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BOARD.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 5 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑51.  Public comment period during regular meetings.
For the first 30 minutes of each regular meeting of the local board of education, a period shall be provided for public comment. The board may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing."
SECTION 2. Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑52.1.  Public comment period during regular meetings.
For the first 30 minutes of each regular meeting of the board of commissioners, a period shall be provided for public comment. The board may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing."
SECTION 3.  Part 3 of Article 5 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑81.1.  Public comment period during regular meetings.
For the first 30 minutes of each regular meeting of the council, a period shall be provided for public comment. The council may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.